Cleated wading sandal



Sept. 2, 1969 M. M. MUNCIE 3,464,127

CLEATED WADING SANDAL Filed Feb. 17, 1967 INVEN M I LTON M. MU E FIG. 2 Q %:t:

United States Patent 3,464,127 CLEA'IIED WADING SANDAL M. M. Muncie, 823 4th Ave, Plattsmonth, Nebr. 68048 Filed Feb. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 618,277 Int. Cl. A43b 3/12, 5/08 US. Cl. 36-7.6 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention pertains to a sandal adapted to be detachably secured to the sole of a shoe or boot having a plurality of spaced apart links mounted on a plurality of parallel retaining rods disposed transversely to the sole, wherein each intermediate rod receives alternately the rear end of one link and the front end of another link in side-by-side relation. The links and rods are detachably securable to the sole by a connecting device secured to the rods which loops around the shoe and ankle of the wearer, and further wherein the connecting device is reversibly secured to the rods for permitting utilization of both the bottom and top walls of the links as a ground engaging auxiliary sole.

The present invention is a wading sandal designed and constructed to facilitate wading in fast water, walking over wet, slippery surfaces and walking over rocky and mountainous terrain.

It is generally know that wading in fast water is dangerous and often results in injuries or drowning. The combination of fast water, rocks covered with moss or slime often result in tragedy. Therefore, one object of the present invention is to prevent such injuries or drowning caused by slipping in fast water.

Hikers, explorers and military personnel often are required to traverse rocky and mountainous terrain where footing is at best, slippery, and exposes the hiker, explorer or military personnel to injuries and death from slipping. Another object of the present invention is to prevent such injuries or death caused by slipping on rocks or mountainous terrain.

Prior aids, such as hobnails, felt soles and wading staffs, have been proven either cumbersome, useless or inadequate. Therefore, a third object of this invention is to eliminate the use of such prior aids.

The invention is a metal sandal quickly and easily fits over a shoe or boot. It is made of aluminum links, bolted in a series that fits the contour of a shoe or boot, regardless of length, width, construction or composition of such shoe or boot. The invention is so constructed that the series of aluminum links enables the invention to flex, bend, grasp and bite as required without any danger of breaking. After links wearing surface has become worn thin, by merely removing back and front strap connectors and reinserting same by revolving 180", the other side of the links can be used, thus permitting utilization of both sides of the cleats. This gives the wearer the advantage of two complete wearing surfaces.

The invention can be rolled up into a small size and can be carried, stowed or stored in a pocket or small pack when not in use.

Uses for the invention are:

(a) For wading in fast water,

(b) For wading in water where there are rocks made slippery by moss or slime,

(c) For walking over a wet slippery surface,

(d) For walking over rocky or mountainous terrain.

The invention should prove useful to the following:

(1) Military personnel,

(2) Fishermen and hunters (sportsmen),

(3) Firemen,

(4) Employees of packing houses,

(5) Employees of oil refineries,

(6) Hikers,

(7) Explorers,

(8) Mountain climbers.

The enclosed drawings indicate as follows:

FIGURE 1, perspective of wading sandal;

FIGURE 2, fragmentary top plan view of the rear portion of the sandal;

FIGURE 3, metal link detail; and

FIGURE 4, fragmentary top plan view of the forward portion of the sandal.

Reference is made to the form of the invention as revealed in FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view constructed i accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view denoting metal links, bolt and strap fasteners or connectors.

FIGURE 3 is metal link detail A x /2 x 1 /2 inches with drilled or punched W bolts and connectors, the top ends chamfered.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the forward portion of the sandal.

Reference is had first to the form of the invention revealed in FIGURES 1 to 4. Here the metal link is denoted by the numeral 8 and is rectangular in form with top ends chamfered and holes punched or drilled to accept A bolts, as at 2 and 7 connectors, as art 4 and 45.

The assembly procedure is as follows:

Starting at the back, first select and put in place five links parallel, as in 8, FIGURE 2. Then select six additional links, as in 8, FIGURE 2, and place the six links in between the first five units, as in 8, FIGURE 2, starting from the right side as in plan view, FIGURE 2. Prior to inserting connector, as in 4, FIGURE 1, vertical leather strap, as in 9, FIGURE 1, is slipped over as in 9, FIG- URE 1, connector. Connector, as in 4, FIGURE 2, is inserted in holes as in 16, FIGURE 3. Opposite end of connector, as in 5, FIGURE 1, is then inserted in another vertical rear strap, as in 9, FIGURE 1, prior to being arc welded, as in 6, FIGURE 2. Starting from the right side of plan view FIGURE 2, select and put in place an addistrap, as in 9, FIGURE 1, is slipped over as in 9, FIG- URE 2. Lock nut, as in 7, FIGURE 2, is placed in position which then secures bolt 2, FIGURE 2.

The same procedure is repeated using links, as in 8, FIGURE 3, and bolts and nuts as in 2 and 7, FIGURE 2, as required and indicated in FIGURE 2, until front connectors as in 45, FIGURE 4, is required, at which time the same procedure as described for rear connector, FIGURE 2, is duplicated with the exception that two (2) links, as in 8, FIGURE 4, are left protruding.

Wading sandal is completed by inserting front bolt as in 2, FIGURE 4, from left to right through cleat, then through loop at front split end of 14, FIGURE 1, and securing with lock nut, as in 7, FIGURE 1. Cross toe strap is run through slit, as in 14, FIGURE 1. Ankle strap, as in 10, FIGURE 1, is then inserted in loops, as in 9 and 14, FIGURE 1, completing the sandal.

FIGURE 2 denotes medium size sandal; to obtain small size, merely delete rear row of cleats in FIGURE 2. To obtain large size, add an additional row of cleats prior to the last two front protruding cleats in FIGURE 1.

To use sandals after wearing sur-face becomes thin, simply remove and reinsert strap connectors 4 and 45, FIGURE 1, and reinsert, as in 15, FIGURE 1.

It will be understood that this unique sandal will allow a person to successfully traverse areas safely where before this invention, it was impossible to so do without exposing ones self to tragedy. Here, therefore, is an eco nomical, practical sandal which it is believed, solves the problem with due appropiateness.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a. more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and arrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice or use, if desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 1. A sandal adapted to be worn on the sole of a shoe, the sandal comprising:

at least three substantially parallel retaining members adapted to extend transversely of the shoe; a plurality of links each having parallel top and bottom walls, said links each having a front hole and a rear hole formed laterally therethrough;

said links mounted in spaced apart relation on adjacent pairs of said members wherein each intermediate member receives alternately the rear end of one link and the front end of another link in side-by-side relation;

said bottom walls forming an auxiliary sole adapted for frictional contact with the surface being traversed by the wearer; and

means connected to some of said members for de-- tachably securing said auxiliary sole against the undersurface of the shoe.

2. A sandal as defined in claim 1 wherein said links extend longitudinally of the shoe.

3. A sandal as defined in claim 2 wherein said means are detachably connected to said members for the purpose of being reversibly connectable thus allowing said top wall to form said auxiliary sole.

4. A sandal as defined in claim 3 and including a forward bolt disposed parallel to said members and spaced forward of the foremost of said members and at least a pair of links mounted in spaced apart relation on said bolt and said foremost member, said means also connected to said bolt.

5. A sandal as defined in claim 4 wherein said means includes a pair of front strap connectors and a pair of rear strap connectors and straps, said connectors mounted on the ends of a forward member and a rearward member and said straps secured to said connectors and adapted to secure said auxiliary sole to the undersurface of the shoe.

6. A sandal as defined in claim 5 wherein saidforemost member and the next adjacent member have a cross member secured to adjacent ends thereof, thus forming an integral unit, said cross member projecting upwardly to form one of said front connectors; removably secured to the other end of said foremost member and said next adjacent member is a second upwardly projecting cross member which forms the other of said front connectors; the rearmost member and next adjacent rear member have an upwardly projecting rear cross member secured therebetween on adjacent ends thereof and a second upwardly projecting rear cross member removably secured to the opposite ends of said rearmost member and said next adjacent rear member, said rear cross member and said second rear cross member forming said rear connectors.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,408,730 3/1922 Grein 36-7.6 2,081,375 5/1937 Hartman et a1 367.6 X 2,525,308 10/ 1950 McDonnell 36-7.6 2,538,182 1/1951 Young 367.6

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner 

